Question

Introduction

I can’t seem to get the the ChartObjects.CopyPicture method to work in Excel 2007. No matter what I try I get an error.

Using this technique throws an ‘Application-defined or object-defined error’ on the CopyPicture line.

ActiveSheet.ChartObjects.CopyPicture Appearance:=xlScreen, Format:=xlPicture Sheets('Sheet2').Paste 

This method throws as ‘PasteSpecial method of Worksheet class failed’ on the PasteSpecial line

ActiveSheet.ChartObjects.Copy     Sheets('Sheet2').PasteSpecial Format:='Picture (Enhanced Metafile)', Link:=False, DisplayAsIcon:=False 

However, If I use the chart as a Shape object it works.

ActiveSheet.Shapes('Chart 6').CopyPicture Appearance:=xlScreen, Format:=xlPicture Sheets('Sheet2').Paste 

This also works

ActiveSheet.Shapes('Chart 6').Copy Sheets('Sheet2').PasteSpecial Format:='Picture (Enhanced Metafile)', Link:=False, DisplayAsIcon:=False 

Problem

My problem is that when I try to copy multiple charts as a group this fails.

I tried to use the Range property of the Shapes object, but there is no CopyPicture method available. I came up with this work-around, but this also failed, with the same messages that I got when trying to CopyPicture.

ActiveSheet.Shapes.Range(Array('Chart 5', 'Chart 6')).Select Selection.CopyPicture Appearance:=xlScreen, Format:=xlPicture Sheets('Sheet2').Paste 

And conversely this didn’t work either

ActiveSheet.Shapes.Range(Array('Chart 5', 'Chart 6')).Select Selection.Copy Sheets('Sheet2').PasteSpecial Format:='Picture (Enhanced Metafile)', Link:=False, DisplayAsIcon:=False 

Answer 1

This issue has been driving me crazy for a long time. I finally found a solution that works, hopefully this will help someone else in the future.

Basically the solution was to Group the Charts as a single Shape object, then CopyPicture on that shape, then Ungroup when your finished.

With ActiveSheet.ChartObjects.ShapeRange.Group     .CopyPicture Appearance:=xlScreen, Format:=xlPicture     .Ungroup End With  Sheets('Sheet2').Paste